This weekend is a very special time for our 40 children who are being confirmed and will also be receiving their First Holy Communion. Some of our children will be celebrating this at St Michael’s Church at 5.00pm Vigil Mass on Saturday and a large group at the 10.00am Mass on Sunday at St Mary’s. It is an extremely important event in a Catholic family's life and can be marked with celebrations and family gatherings. Please keep these children in your prayers:

FIRST COMMUNION & CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES

Caoimhe Barbour

Paulo Echiverri

Grace Erskine-Shaw

Dylan Fox

Olivia Graham

Gabrielle Guevarra

Connor Hesom

Samuel James

Sahr Kortequee

Jacinta Low

Rosie Luciuch

Cailie Macdonald

Daniil Manlunas

Isabel McCashin

Ariel Muchirahondo

Destin Overbeay

Dallas Portland

Joseph Ronayne

Miah Rowe

Xavier Sarich-Dunn

Dominic Spanbroek

Loraine Umadhay

Adyn Weber

Anika Archer

Ashton Hyde

Jasmine Mackie

Joshua Mariano

Emma McCowatt

Harrison McLeod

Krisha Patel

Paul Michael

Zeta Ronquillo

Olivia Scholte

Markus Tane

George Terry

Chandiz Young

Alexis de la Rocha

Karolina Joyce

Julianne Pureza

Kate Vivero

Cormac Barbour

Mikulash Joyce

Jethro Mariano

Sadly, I received Trudy James, our sports coordinator’s resignation this week. She has accepted a full time job with Pipi Mā: World’s first Māori speaking dolls Company. This is an exciting opportunity for Trudy. She will be able to use her skills and talents in this sales/admin role and she is looking forward to being immersed in Te Reo Kori. Trudy will be missed, as she has been a dynamic sports’ coordinator and a great staff member. Her job will be advertised shortly. If you know of anyone who might be interested in being a sports coordinator they can express their interest by sending an email to Dorothy Jensen: dorothyj@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

This Friday, June 8th we have our Sacred Heart Mass. We love having our parents and whanau join us for our school Mass.

I would like to invite Filipino Families to a parent meeting to discuss student achievement, aspirations for your children and the Graduate Profile. The meeting will take place next Wednesday 13th June at 3.15pm in Room 15 and should last around 30-45 minutes.

We also intend having a meeting for our Indian families two weeks later on Wednesday June 27th at 6.00pm in Room 15.

Please keep Tuesday 19th June free for our annual cultural dinner. It is usually a great affair. It is ‘bring a plate’, so if you like, bring some of your culture’s food. Celebrations start at 5.30pm and it is usually all over by 7.00pm.

School photos are scheduled for Friday 22nd June and information/envelopes have been sent home with your child. Please do not leave the ordering of these photos to the last minute. Orders must be with the school office by Wednesday 20 June. Last year we had lots of parents bringing their envelopes in on the day. The organisation on the day is already hectic enough without having to contend with a large number of late orders.

There have been a number of classes changing rooms recently, and although children have moved rooms your child’s room number will remain the same for this year: Kahikatea TeamRoom 11, Mr BachRoom 13, Mrs SmithKakano TeamRoom 16, Mrs HolmesRoom 17, Whae NikkiRoom 18A Miss RyanRoom 18B Mrs Keaney

Staff had an excellent day on Friday listening to Nathan Wallis. Nathan is a child psychologist. He is a renowned international speaker and had some important messages about what goes on for a child in the first thousand days of their life and what we can do as teachers to support children with their learning when they start at school. Thank you for keeping your children at home on Friday which allowed staff to attend this excellent professional development.

One day this week, the crane will be back and operating from the church car park again. The architect is asking the builders to lower the roof structure behind Room 16. I am not sure when this is going to happen. I will let you know via facebook, email and notification when I know, so you can avoid the car park.

I mentioned last week that the Rotorua District Council was working on the Ranolf St Cycleway. To minimise the impact on the school the work outside our school will now take place during the next school holidays in July. Tree removal and the relocation of the poles may take place though, anytime soon.

On Friday our two rippa teams play in the local schools tournament. We wish our students well.

Last weekend two of our students represented our area at a Water Polo tournament in Auckland. Madeleine Keaney and Maiah Ngawhika Karolina Joyce, Imogen Blundell, and Ariel Muchirahondo were in the winning team and both Madeleine and Maiah were selected in the tournament team. An excellent effort. Well done.

RegardsDavid Macmillan, Principal.

Our school website and app now have a more user friendly calendar where you can see what is coming up at school. Be sure to check it out to stay informed. Click here for link

Homework Club – Every ThursdayThe Homework Club is specifically set up to offer extra learning time and support for our Pasifika students after school. Every Thursday from 3.00pm-4.00pm students can meet in room 15 to complete any home reading or homework they would like support with. Parents are also welcome to attend, to gain tips and ideas on how to support learning at home. *If you would like your child to attend but they are not Pasifika, they are still welcome to attend.

SCHOOL POLICIES:This term we are reviewing our policy around ‘Reporting to Parents’. If you would like to view the policy and make some comments please follow the instructions below:Visit the website http://stmarysrotorua.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htmEnter the username (stmarysrotorua) and password (3010).Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.Read the policy.Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.Select the reviewer type "Parent".Enter your name (optional).Submit your ratings and comments.

If you don't have internet access, the school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

SCHOOL LUNCHES :__School lunches are available from Pita Pit, Rotorua on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Lunches need to be ordered online via www.lunchonline.co.nz. Children need to come to the School Office at lunchtime to collect their ordered lunch.

On Fridays the children are able to buy a sausage and a juicie. This is an initiative of the PTA. Children place their orders with their own class teacher and orders are delivered to their class at lunchtime.Sausages $1.50 - Juicies $1.50

From Our Director of Religious Studies:

Guten Tag Everyone,On Friday we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart. We also welcome all our new families to our school at our school Mass-9:00 am Friday. Please do join us if you can. I had the opportunity to see some great RE lessons in classes last week. It is always good to see how teachers are utilising their talents in helping to deliver the RE curriculum.The Sacraments[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHRiTdVI-4-view here] First Holy Communion and Confirmation Information from Father:The Bishop is coming to celebrate First Holy Communion and Confirmation this weekend - 9th and 10th June. The Vigil Mass at St Michael’s and the 10.00 am Mass at St Mary’s. I would encourage those who attend 10.00 Mass at St Marys’ to consider one of the other Masses. Of course everyone is welcome to attend these celebrations, but it could be a squeeze. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers as they make this important step in their journey of faith as young Catholics.

Well done children and all the very best.

Help me Lord, to approach this communion table with reverence and godly fear, as we share together in the bread and the cup. Lord, we remember how on the same night that You were betrayed You took a piece of bread, and blessed it and broke it, and gave it to Your disciples and said. “Eat this in remembrance of Me.”

Blessings,

Bernie Hall-Director of Religious Studies

Catholics Returning HomeYou are invited to attend a refresher course for Catholics wanting to return to the practice of their Catholic faith. This will run weekly at 7.00 pm on Tuesday nights commencing 3rd July 2018 for four weeks until 24th July at St. Mary's, corner of Seddon and Ranolf Street. For further enquiries, please email Fr. Eamon Kennedy at freamonkennedy@gmail.com

ONLINE UNIFORM SALESUNIFORMS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE VIA OUR WEBSITE USING PAYPAL.WE AIM TO FILL THE ORDERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT PLEASE ALLOW AT LEAST 3 DAYS FROM TIME OF ORDERING TO RECEIPT OF GOODS.

Arts in MotionArts in Motion practice is on Wednesdays. Lyrical and Jazz are at 7.30am until 8.30am. Hip hop is after school until 4pm. Check out our Arts in Motion blog to keep up to date. Follow the blog so the messages get sent straight to your email. Any further information please contact Shanelle McCashin Ph 021 02657995

School Absences:If your child is away from school for any reason, please notify our office staff using one of these options :Phone 3481 701Link to website:See quicklink on website (top of page) on website

Change of Address/Contact Phone numbers:We always appreciate notification if your personal contact details have changed. Please notify the office or email : dorothyj@stmarysrotorua.school.nzThe school newsletter is available on Wednesday afternoons. A hard copy is always available from front reception if required - otherwise you will be emailed a copy.

KAPA HAKA has begun for the year with our nationally recognised tutor, Matua Koro Tini. Notices have been sent home with children who wish to participate. If you have any queries about Kapa Haka please come and see Mrs Dunkley in Room 3, or email sylviad@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

Sports News

Kia Ora Sports Parents,

Cross Country

Cross Country letters have gone home today with the top 6 qualifiers for each age group for interschool. Parents can you please sign and return back to me asap. Also please let me know if you can assist with transport. thank you.

St Mary's App - Download Now

Parents, if you don't have the School App please make sure you download this so you do not miss out on sports updates. With winter sports here and the rain that is expected over winter months it pays to know when there are cancellations. Please ensure you click (under settings) the sports your children are participating in. Winter Sports are Football, Netball, Miniball and Hockey.

Football

Check on the website for your child's team.

Games / Grades 5 - 8 are up on the website the remaining grades are to come.

Football Uniform is: Maroon PE ShortsSt Mary's Sports Socks (Blue and Maroon)Football Top (to be collected from the Front Office) I have 30 kids who have not collected their top yetChild's own Football Shoes

I have a range of football boots that have been donated. If your child needs boots, please let Trudy (Sports Coordinator) know.

Netball

Your child can most definately wear warm clothing before and after a game, but please stick to the uniform when playing.

Miniball

Miniball Teams are up on the St Mary's website, please check what team your child is in.

No MINIBALL this Friday due to the Sportsdrome being unavailable

Miniball Uniform is:St Mary's Maroon PE ShortsSt Mary's Singlet (to be collected from the Front Office) if you played touch then you will be playing in the same singlet.Child's own court shoes / Sneakers

This year Juniors will play on a Monday and Middles and Seniors will play on the Friday. Please check website for teams and draws.

Hockey

MINI DRAWGames in this Mini grade will run from 11:00am to 12:00pm. We have four pools of seven. This means seven weeks in Round 1. Six of the weeks they will play teams in their own pool and one week they will play a cross-over games with a team from another pool. The draw will be up on the BOP Website today.http://www.bophockey.co.nz/ROTORUA-JUNIOR-HOCKEY/DRAWS-RESULTS

MAXI DRAWGames in the Maxi grade run from 8:30am to 11:00am. To move through the grading pools a bit faster and make sure for the first three weeks all our keen maxi beans are playing hockey we are going to run 20 minute games with a 5 minute change over. This means we can get through two games on May 12th, May 19th and May 26th. There will be no byes. If you are in Pool A you will have two games each week. The other pools will have two weeks of two games an one week where there is only one game. We have blocked the games so teams may have one game right after the other but they will not be waiting around for ages to play a second game. The draw will be available on the BOP Hockey Website today: http://www.bophockey.co.nz/ROTORUA-JUNIOR-HOCKEY/DRAWS-RESULTS

Gymnastics

This Thursday - Te Puke Comp Gym kids please meet in the hall at lunchtime for a meeting and uniform sizing.

Rippa Rugby 2018

Both teams have been named for Rippa Rugby and all parents should know practice times.

Year 5/6 are Tuesday's 3:30pm to 4:30pm at the St Mikes Rugby Fields

Year 3/4 are Thursday's lunchtime and Friday afterschool. Both practices will be on the school fields.

Our Country for this Tournament is Argentina. If you have any regalia for Argentina please add to your child's look for the day.

There is a lunchtime practice for year 3/4 on the school field tomorrow and a practice for the senior at St Mikes 3:30pm to 4:30pm.

Squash

BOP Primary Inter-School Squash Tournament

Date: Thursday 14th June 2018Venue: Geyser City Squash, RotoruaEntries close: Thursday 7th June (no late entries will be accepted) Entries to: Trudy - Sports Co-ordinatorCost: $15 per playerTime: 8.45am - All teams to arrive by this time, 9am - Match play starts, 3pm - Finish (approx.) Prize giving will be after the last match of the day

St Mary's Ski Team

Simon Nicholson and Fee Teat are putting together a Ski Team (6) to represent St Marys at the NIPS - North Island Primary School ski champs that take place on the Monday 27th-30th August. We would love to hear from families whose children that have the ability of riding a T-Bar and beyond.

A special mention to the Miniball Jaguars, who played with so much heart last Friday. This team have not only been placed in the wrong grade twice, but rather than that get them down they fight the whole game beginining to end with such tenacity and pride. Well done girls - you all rock!